As far as comebacks go, AJ Ferrari‘s is one to behold. In the 2024-25 wrestling season, numerous competitors showed off their might on the mat, but AJ Ferrari was one of the standouts. He made his return to wrestling 2 years after a car accident kept him sidelined, participated as a redshirt sophomore for California State University, Bakersfield, and what’s more, he did pretty well for himself. With a background as an NCAA champion, he secured an impressive 21-1 record, ultimately earning a third-place finish at the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships (and All-American honors), on top of winning the PAC-12 Championships. With the season he’s had, it’s no surprise that Ferrari is already looking to level up.

In the wake of these performances, Ferrari made headlines by entering the transfer portal last month, signaling his desire to seek new opportunities with 2-3 years of eligibility still ahead of him. And can you believe it? The announcement of his entry into the portal has generated significant interest from various prominent wrestling programs, but his future destination remains a mystery. While his fans are left in the dark, the wrestler shared an important update regarding his future.

In an interview on FloWrestling’s YouTube channel following the NCAA Championships, AJ Ferrari expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming US Open. He stated, “Oh, 100%, guaranteed, if my body’s feeling good, I gotta see how my body’s feeling, 100% be there, ready to dominate whoever’s at 92, 97 kilograms, you know, I want to give it a good shot, but again, like I said, I gotta see how my body feels, heal up, and yeah, go back to the drawing board.”

Ferrari appears poised to embrace new challenges in his wrestling career. If he has his way, he certainly won’t be biding his time until the next college season commences to hit the mat. The 2025 U.S. Open Wrestling Championships are set to occur from April 23 to April 27 at The Expo at World Market Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. While Ferrari hasn’t officially confirmed his presence, he did reshare the clip of him talking about the competition on his Instagram story. An unsubtle hint? Only time will tell.

Ferrari has faced significant challenges this NCAA season, and it will ultimately be up to him to determine if his body can handle the demands of this tournament before he steps onto the mat come the 2025-26 season. But when he does, which college colors can we expect Ferrari to don?

AJ Ferrari might consider either of these two programs

“I am so thankful for Cal State Bakersfield. I am entering the portal today and am considering all opportunities. I still have 2-3 years of eligibility left. I am starving for success on and off the wrestling mat,” Ferrari shared on his social media, directly stating that he will be competing for a new program now. The leading candidates? Well, you might not believe it, but it’s the Penn State Nittany Lions and the Oklahoma State Cowboys, as per Pat Mineo of the Wrestling Room.

The leading programs in college wrestling are competing for Ferrari’s attention. Certainly a dream situation for Ferrari, though it’s not uncommon for a wrestler to generate significant excitement the instant he steps into that transfer portal. What is it about these two wrestling programs that sets them apart from the other available options? Well, Ferrari’s ties to Penn State and Oklahoma State are rooted in his history with each of these programs.

Let’s rewind to Ferrari’s high school days. As a leading high school wrestling prospect, Ferrari was quick to express his respect for then-coach John Smith and the program’s familial environment. This in turn influenced his decision to commit in 2019. So for Ferrari to return would certainly make it a full-circle moment, capping off the comeback in every sense of the word.

AJ Ferrari will be stepping into what has become a well-oiled machine this season. The Cowboys showcased impressive performances this season, securing third place at the NCAA Championships under the guidance of rookie coach David Taylor. It will be interesting to see how Taylor’s guidance can help Ferrari take his wrestling to another level.

But who can resist the allure of the Nittany Lions and the legendary Cael Sanderson? The wrestler’s interest in Penn State was clearly demonstrated during his recruitment a few years back. But this is a more contentious rumor, as Zach Seyko (who covers the Nittany Lions) refuted Mineo’s initial report, leading to Mineo disagreeing with Seyko’s refutation. And if the thought of Taylor coaching Ferrari is interesting, then Ferrari, guided by Sanderson, is positively gripping.

Regardless of which program AJ Ferrari chooses, the day he announces his decision is sure to be a big one. And with Mineo reporting that the decision could be made in a matter of weeks, wrestling fans and fans of Ferrari have a nail-biting time ahead of them. Where do you think he will end up? Let us know in the comments below!